Renault and Red Bull start negotiations after Monaco

They already have a decent benchmark in McLaren, I dont think they need another. I think the only really honest thing Abiteboul said here is that Renault dont need Red Bull or the massive flow of cash they get from TAG Heuer on RB's behalf. Honda, however, do need another team on their roster. I dont think Red Bull will make the switch, not unless Honda were to equal Renault this year in a very convincing fashion (possible, mind, not like Renault are leaps and bounds ahead), but they absolutely can.

I don't think RB has a heck of a lot to loose, they'll never become champion with Renault under the current regulations. They haven't been for the best of 4 years since the hybrids came in and Renault has been lagging behind the curve ever since. A lot of promises but 2017 and 18 so far Renault has been only focussing on reliability for the most part, whilst Honda has done that and also focused on performance. 2018 was too early for a partnership but 2019 will be the year of Red Bull becoming main partners with Honda. I'm convinced. He who dares, wins.

I hope you are right Timber VD.

It's hard for me to comprehend why after a now 3 and a half years of hardcore development, and marginal improvements, some expect that Honda will go from being the worst PU to competing with Mercedes and Ferrari. I am not saying they are not capable or committed to do so, but to expect to switch in 2019 and be better off immediately seems disingenuous at best.

We do? Since when? Im personally not. It'll take more time than that. But they need only to get equal or better than Renault, and thats not an impossible goal. Will they be able to produce such units in time for a RB switch? We'll see. But I think Honda will benefit from their willingness to do many midseason upgrades, even after the midseason point. I dont think Renault can afford to rest on their laurels anymore and release as few upgrades as they've done these last years.

I agree, from Redbull's perspective Honda need only be better than Renault, not on par with Mercedes and Ferrari, and if they have to forsake some more immediate results in order to be a factory team, I believe they should make that commitment and assist Honda in its development as soon as possible.

I think Renault will get better……..

On par with Mercedes and Ferrari engines I don't know, but in the end, where will that leave Red Bull?...... Last year we saw Toro Rosso complain of a lack of supply of new parts from Renault, and I'm sure Cyril would love to stick it up Red Bull as soon as he gets the chance........

But that’s the point isn’t it? As time goes by Renault ‘will’ improve, and Red Bull won't win as a competing customer of Renault. At some point Red Bull need to develop a factory team relationship (or at least a preferential customer relationship) with another engine supplier.

In any case, I think Red Bull has more of a say in the supply decision than Renault would like to admit (both in terms of: the Sainz situation; and having Red Bull as a winning team representing their engine), however I also think that Red Bull needs to bite the bullet sooner rather than later in terms of aligning themselves with an engine supplier in a factory team capacity, and in so doing, commit to helping that manufacturer develop their engine......... though I'm just quietly hoping that manufacturer might be a VW marque......